Lost: "Happily Ever After" Review

Another game changing Desmond Hume episode.

Desmond's back! Oh how we've missed you. Desmond-centric stories have delivered some of the best and most pivotal moments throughout the entire history of the series. While not necessarily on the same level as "The Constant" or even "Flashes Before Your Eyes", "Happily Ever After" does deliver many game changing moments that will alter the way we view the alternate universe from this point forward.

As much as I've missed Desmond, I'm glad they waited to bring him back. Desmond alone is quite the daunting mystery and trying to intertwine his monumental storyline earlier in the season with everything else that transpired may have been a little much. It was the right decision to bring him in when they did and "Happily Ever After" not only benefits from a great story but it also fills the Desmond void we've all been experiencing. There are plenty of pivotal encounters throughout "Happily Ever After" that give us a better understanding of what the alternate universe might be.

Up until now, the LA X universe has left us with little to go on regarding its true purpose. Besides the strange fact that the characters we've come to know and love over the years all seem to bump into each other on a regular basis, there has been nothing unusual about this alternate Earth. Thankfully, Mr. Game Changer himself, Desmond is here to show us that there is really more to LA X than meets the eye.

Through several key encounters, Desmond discovers there is more to the world around him than he once thought. His encounter with Charlie starts this incredible journey. We learn that Charlie's near death experience has shown him something that has changed the way he perceives the reality around him. Suddenly, everything doesn't seem quite as real to him.

His description of what he saw as he drifted towards death's door was most likely a vision of Claire. As "true love" is an important theme throughout the story it makes the most sense. In order to share the sense of enlightenment that he received from his brush with death, Charlie forces Desmond to plunge his car into the ocean. Here, we relive, in brilliant fashion, one of the most memorable Lost moments ever – NOT PENNY'S BOAT.

Reliving that key moment from the original timeline triggers Desmond into recalling some of his regular memories – most of them about Penny. Again, I love the fact that his Constant, Penny, continues to play a huge part in his journey; even when he's in a completely different universe. Some may find this too saccharine but I've absolutely adored the development of their relationship.

Desmond's encounter with Charlie is just the tip of the iceberg. His encounter with Eloise was nothing short of mind blowing! Eloise, once again, knows more than she's telling Desmond or us. We have to remember, that both Charles Widmore and Eloise Hawking should have been on that island at one point in time and they would have both encountered survivors of Flight 815 so, in some twisted fashion, it makes sense that Eloise has an understanding of what is going on.

She may have even had access to Faraday's journal, which would give her a wealth of knowledge on what happened in the original timeline. Understandably, she probably wants Desmond to leave everything alone so that she doesn't murder her own son – again! In her eyes, this new universe is for the best.

Will they or won't they?

Desmond's journey isn't done there. He next encounters the best scientist/musician since Buckaroo Banzai – Daniel Faraday! Or, um, Daniel Widmore! If there's one character we've missed as much as Desmond it would have to be Faraday. If the revelation that Eloise knew more than she was letting on wasn't enough to make Desmond curious as to what was going on, Faraday's revelations send him over the edge.

While Charlie merely hinted at all not being what it seemed, the validity of claims was somewhat questionable considering his drug use. With Faraday, you not only have someone who clearly understands and believes what they are saying, he has the science to back it up – even if he doesn't understand it. I was actually taken by surprise by the amount of information Faraday appeared to know. He clearly knew about detonating the bomb and about the plan to change reality. All that from one simple glance at alternate universe Charlotte?

This brings us back to the continued running theme of Desmond's story – love. Yes, some may see it as a little silly but it has given many characters the focus they needed during their darkest hour. We saw this with Richard in "Ab Aeterno" just a couple of episodes ago. Charlie was obviously given a certain sense of clarity after having a close encounter with the woman he loved in his near-death experience. Now Faraday has experienced the same thing with someone we can only assume is Charlotte.

It's also interesting to note that Faraday had clear visions of the alternate universe. Desmond has the benefit of his consciousness-hoping counterpart in the original universe to help him remember key moments from the original timeline. Faraday doesn't have that advantage, yet he can still remember. If intense feelings (such as love) act as a catalyst to remembering the original timeline, why didn't this trigger anything in Sawyer or Kate during their original encounter? Or maybe that is something yet to be revealed.

Faraday's final reveal to Desmond is that Penny does exist and he gives instructions on how to meet her. Having Desmond and Penny meet for the first time at the stadium was fitting. I absolutely love all these call backs to memorable moments from previous seasons. While I would think it would be a bit awkward to encounter a woman, alone, during the night while she's jogging, Desmond and Penny have a familiarity with each other even now. Penny is clearly taken by surprise but the fact that she accepts his proposal for coffee says a lot about how much she trusts this strange man who approached her in the dark and then fainted.

They will!

It was interesting to see that it was Penny's touch in LA X that brought Desmond back into our universe. As said, she's his Constant so it makes sense that she would be the only one with the power to send Desmond's consciousness back to the original universe.

One thing that I thought "Happily Ever After" didn't make clear was the level of control that Desmond had on his alternate universe counterpart? Was he simply an observer or did his visit to the LA X universe trigger that Desmond's search for the truth?

When all is said and done, both Desmond's seem to be clear on what they have to do. I still don't know if I'm quite clear on what they have to do but their confidence in their plan (strange to say "their" when talking about the same guy) gives me a strange sense of comfort. Even when evil Sayid comes to "rescue" him I love that Desmond isn't the slightest bit fazed. He's got this.